Hey Kita, thanks for the review and the compliment. Made my day.

I THINK that I may finally have figured out what the problem with the formatting is. No promises, though,

This chapter inspired by Live at Sine and August and Everything After

Chapter 5

Nathan woke suddenly, in a strange bed, his eyes darting around the room. Trying to remember where he was. Trying to remember what had happened. He felt pressure on his arm, weight across his body, soft breath against the underside of his chin. He turned slightly, seeing the girl from Dinos....

...what was her name? Rebecca? He remembered her telling him her name, sometime in a haze of beer and shots. Remembered watching her ass as she leaned over the pool table to play her shot...

...lying next to him, a mess of entwined limbs. He lifted the covers slightly, untangling himself from her. Moving slowly, carefully. Wanting to slip away before she woke,

His feet touched the floor next to the bed and it creaked slightly. She murmured softly in her sleep and he froze. Holding his breath until she rolled over, settling deeper into her pillows. Pulling the sheet up around her naked shoulders.

Nathan stood, walking softly, slowly across her room. Lifting his clothes from where they had been thrown the previous night. Walking carefully, on his toes. He lifted his jeans, draping them across his pile of clothes. He wouldn't risk dressing here, in her room. Too much chance of waking her.

Almost free now, his hand on the handle of her bedroom door.

"You don't have to sneak out."

Her voice was sleepy, slurred. He looked back over his shoulder, as she sat up, holding the blanket up to cover her, her eyes blinking in the dim light. "What time is it?"

"Little after 7." Nathan looked around the room, casting around for a believable story. "I have to go to work, Rebecca. I didn't want to wake you." He prayed that that was her name. Otherwise...

"Bullshit." She yawned, starting to stretch. Then stopped, suddenly shy, conscious of his eyes on her. "At least you got my name right. At least you're not a complete bastard."

"What's mine?" Suddenly curious, still clutching his clothes. Smiling at her. He remembered her smiling and laughing in Dinos. Remembered, through the haze, doing everything he could to make her smile, make her laugh.

"Nathan." She didn't smile. Lying back down, rolling over in bed, avoiding looking at him. She bit her lip. "Make sure you close the door on your way out."

He could see her shoulders, hear her voice shake.

He sighed, shifting his grip on his clothes, putting his hand back on the door handle. "Rebecca...."

"Get out Nathan!"

"I'll call you later, okay?"

She still didn't look at him. "Whatever." She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to pretend that she was still asleep. She should have kept her eyes closed. At least then she wouldn't have had to watch him leave. At least then, she wouldn't have made such a fool of herself.

He watched her pretend to sleep. Watched her shoulders shake as she tried to control her sobs. He slipped out through her bedroom door. Pausing on the landing to dress.

He could hear her crying through the bedroom door.

"Hey! That's my cup!"

Ashley stopped in the middle of pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Sorry, I didn't know." She handed the cup over to the other woman. "I'm new here."

"Well, that's no excuse." She held the cup up. "See. It's clearly marked with my initials. COB. You see?" She pushed the cup forward, pointing at the small initials on the side.

"I know, I'm sorry." Ashley raised her hands defensively. "Last place I worked, we just had communal mugs." She held out her hand cautiously. "I'm Ashley."

"Chloe." She gripped Ashley's hand briefly. "It's okay. You don't look like you have any diseases or anything like that." She looked at the coffee and poured it down the sink. "You're here early." She set the kettle to boil again.

"I'm not used to the time yet. It's still dark in New York."

"Ashley, Michelle wants you in the conference room as soon as possible." Tony set his mug down on the counter. Tapping his foot as he waited impatiently for the kettle to boil. "Morning Chloe."

"Morning Tony." Chloe fell silent. Not making eye contact. It was still strange to have Tony back, working at CTU as if nothing had ever happened. She made her coffee and left as quickly as she could.

Tony poured a cup for himself and for Ashley. "The conference room is this way." He pushed the door open and followed her into the room. She looked around for a second and took the closest seat.

Michelle and Tom were already there, sitting at the head of the table. She drew breath to speak and stopped as the door knocked. Nathan grinned ruefully and sat down next to Ashley. "Sorry Michelle." Tom leaned back in his chair, trying to hide his own smile.

She nodded and looked at Ashley. "How did last night go?"

"Okay." Ashley took the photograph from her pocket and pushed it over to Michelle. "I don't think the girl's involved. At least not willingly."

Michelle looked at the picture and passed it over to Tom. "Blackmail?"

Ashley nodded. "Looks like it. They took a couple more last night. Williams wasn't there."

"We have some photos of Williams' organisation on file." Tom made a note on his pad. "Ashley, why don't you take a look at them when we get finished up here, see if you recognise anybody."

"Good. Anything else from last night?"

"She's got a day to do what they wanted. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time she'd done it, either."

Adam clicked his fingers. "The money! She must be transferring the money from Rawlings to Williams' account."

Michelle nodded. "Okay, set up on both accounts. See if there's any withdrawals or deposits in either account." She looked around the table. "Anything else? Okay, you all know what you're doing."

The conference room emptied quickly. Michelle took another minute, gathering the strength to climb the stairs to her office. She could feel her headache starting already.

Alyson heard the noise of the office through a haze of cotton wool, the sound of telephones, of computers, of conversation muted. Hushed.

She felt her hand shake, a reminder of the previous night. Of everything she had done, everything she had allowed to be done to her.

She wiped her hand on her trousers. Not that she was likely to forget.

She glanced over her shoulder, seeing her supervisor at the far end of the office. Alyson looked away quickly, before Rebecca could catch her eye. Bending her head over her keyboard, her loose hair covering her pale cheeks. Sweat beading on her forehead, she started to type.

Even the thought of what she had done, of what he had made her do, made her sick to the stomach.

She typed quickly. She knew exactly what she was doing. She had done it too many times in the past. Each key press another nail of guilt into her heart.

She was stealing from her father.

Alyson watched the screen until the words she dreaded flashed up : TRANSACTION COMPLETED. She picked up her phone and dialled his number.

"It's done."

"Tom, have you seen Michelle?"

"She's in her office, Adam. What's up?"

"She had me monitoring those bank accounts, in the Rawlings case." Adam highlighted a series of transactions on his screen. "This one, about twenty minutes ago, under Alyson's access code." He clicked rapidly, opening another screen. "And then, here, about five minutes ago. The same amount in Williams' account." He leaned back in his chair, looking pleased with himself.

Tom clapped him on the back. "Brilliant, Adam."

"Do you want me to bring this to Michelle?"

"No." Tom was thinking rapidly. "No, I'll do it. Good work Adam." He clapped Adam on the back again and started to climb the stairs towards the Directors office.

Adam watched him go, eyebrows raised in surprise. He looked around, met Tony's eyes, shrugged and turned back to his screen.

"I understand Mr Jarode's concerns, Darren, but..."

"I don't think you do, Mr Hammond. The Senator is concerned that it seems like we punished a man for trying to protect his wife, which is his duty in the eyes of God."

Brad ground his teeth. Michael Jarode had been elected with the support of the Christian Right and now he sent his pet bulldog after Brad. "He facilitated the escape of a known terrorist."

Darren Rose might be Jarode's pet bulldog, but Brad Hammond was starting to believe that somebody else's hand might be holding the leash.

"He's a proven agent, a man with an exemplary service record."

"He put the life of his wife before the lives of millions. I'm sorry Darren, but I don't think there are any excuses or any defence for his actions. He compromised the defence of this country."

"The Senator disagrees. He hopes you are not compromising the defence of this country by your actions and asks you to remember that the position of CTU director has to be confirmed by Congress."

"Tell the Senator that I don't appreciate being threatened. Goodbye Darren." He slammed the phone down, breathing heavily. Then lifted it again. "Mary, could you put me through to Natasha's office?"

"Right away sir."

The phone clicked twice, then rang briefly. He felt his temper start to rise.

Ellen answered efficiently, professionally. "Natasha Grey's office, can I help you?"

"It's Brad Hammond. Is Natasha there?"

"One second please, sir. I'll just check for you."

The line went silent. Brad fumed in impatience. He loosened his tie, glancing at the clock on his desk. And again, wondering how long it would take her...

"Mr Hammond?" Ellen's voice reappeared suddenly in his ear. "I'm sorry sir, but Ms Grey is unavailable at the minute. Can I take a mess..."

Brad hung up, cutting her off in mid flow. He didn't want to look like he was chasing after her, didn't want to appear weak. Especially not at the minute.

Natasha Grey was coming after him.

"....simple plan." Tom stopped pacing and sat down opposite Nathan and Ashley. "Minimal risk, easy to execute."

"I don't think she knows anything else about Williams." Ashley shook her head. "All we're doing is risking my cover."

"There's not much risk involved, Ashley. We've made this sort of play before. If it looks like it's going to burn you, then we'll abort, right Nathan?"

"Sure." Nathan grinned, leaning back in his chair. His smile faded as soon as Tom looked away. He could still smell her perfume from his shirt.

"Ashley?"

"Okay. When do we do this?"

"Tonight." Tom stood up. "The Director's already signed off on the operation."

"Samuel! Good to see you again!"

"And you."

"Is everything ready?"

"I just need to check that the money is in place." He glanced at his watch. "My contact was supposed to have all this arranged, so it shouldn't be too much longer."

Almost on cue, his phone rang. He answered it, listening briefly . "Everything is set. Do you want the money transferred into the usual account?"

"Yes."

"Make the transfer. Usual account." He hung up. "We're transferring the money now."

"As soon as the money's in our account, we'll make arrangements to the deposit the merchandise." The man turned away from Samuel, glancing back at his car. Samuel could see a man, sitting in the passenger seat, a lap top balanced across his lap.

His contact's phone rang. He flipped it open. "Yes? Okay, arrange the drop." He turned back to Samuel and shook hands. "Good to see you again."

Samuel dialled another number on his phone as he walked back to his car. "Jake, it's me." He paused, leaning on the car door. "They've been paid, so the drop should be happening soon. Be ready."

He hung up as he got into his car. Drove off, accelerating away from the meeting place.

"Hey Alyson."

"Hey." Alyson looked around, making sure no one was watching her before walking over. "What are you doing here?" She looked around again. Nervous. Concerned. Pale faced, shivering, despite the sweat on her forehead.

She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to stop shaking.

Ashley saw her shake, the dark marks on the flesh beneath her bloodshot eyes. Despite herself, she smiled. This was going to be easier than she had expected.

"I've got some more. Better than that shit we had last night." She thought quickly, sweetening the pill a little bit more. "Samuel phoned me, told me everything worked out, said you deserved a reward. No charge."

Alyson smiled, her features easing, tension seeming to drain from her face. "He said that?" Scarcely daring to hope, to breath.

Ashley nodded. "He did." She looked over her shoulder. "My place is just around the corner. You wanna go...."

"Sure."

Alyson sat at the low table, her practiced fingers working quickly. Singing along with the stereo.

It had been easy to kill her guilt.

Ashley sat on the other chair, nursing a beer. She heard footsteps outside her apartment and sat up suddenly, spilling beer over the arm of her chair. "Did you hear something?"

"Nope." Alyson blinked, managing to focus on her. "Siddown, have some..."

"I swear to fuck there's something out there." Ashley rose to her feet, lifting her gun from inside her jacket. Walking over to the door.

The door exploded suddenly, knocked from its hinges.

Her apartment full of uniformed figures. She felt herself pushed against the wall, the gun knocked from her hands, twisted painfully behind her back, feeling the metal cuffs bite into her wrists, the officer behind her pulling her arms taut. She bit her lip against the pain. As he pulled her away from the wall, she managed to look at Alyson over her shoulder.

Like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Manhandled to her feet. Handcuffed.

"You're both under arrest." Another officer, dressed in plain clothes, his badge hanging on a chain around his neck, pulled a card from his pocket. "You have the right to remain silent..."